McDonald’s to sponsor “Champion” Children

Worldwide Olympic Partner McDonald’s today launched its newest Olympic programme, McDonald’s Champion Kids in Beijing.

The programme will enable up to 300 kids from around the world to travel to the 2008 Olympic Games to share their stories and experiences with their local communities and hometown news outlets. Through this once-in-a-lifetime journey, the children will have the chance to see the Games, meet Olympic athletes, visit cultural sights and interact with kids from across the globe.

Today’s launch event in Beijing was attended by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, Executive Vice-President of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) Mr Wang Wei, Republic of China Olympic gold medallist and McDonald’s Champion Kids Ambassador in China Guo Jingjing, and other local dignitaries. Six-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps will serve as McDonald’s Global Ambassador for the programme.

“This is a gold medal programme for children,” said Phelps. “To experience China and the world’s greatest sporting event will be magic, with memories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. What an opportunity!”

“McDonald’s unique Champion Kids programme mirrors the passion we have for bringing together young people from around the world, connecting cultures and communities as only the Olympic Movement can,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge.

“With the McDonald’s Champion Kids programme, we are making a significant investment to give hundreds of children the experience of a lifetime,” said Mary Dillon, McDonald’s Global Chief Marketing Officer. “These special kids will reach out to thousands more, connecting with their worldwide peers to communicate the sights and sounds of the Olympic Games and the fascinating culture of China. It’s another example of our commitment to the enrichment of children.”

McDonald’s became an Official Sponsor of the Olympic Games in 1976 and has a long-standing commitment to the Olympic Movement. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games mark McDonald’s sixth Olympic Games as a TOP Sponsor and seventh as the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games. McDonald’s current sponsorship will continue through the 2012 Games in London.